Benelli's new motorcycle: TNT

Benelli's new TNT motorcycle is named after the Trinitrotoluene explosive. The bike is Benelli's take on the streetfighter class of unfaired, minimalist and mean, high performance machines and it is one of the most visually aggressive motorcycles yet created.

It has its origins in the Benelli Tornado three cylinder superbike but is its own entity, despite the similar engine. The stroke has been increased from 49.2 mm to 62 mm giving the new engine a displacement is 1131 cc. The Tornado engine was no slug to start with, having been run in World Superbike racing (in the hands of Peter Goddard) with enough success to be a very credible supersport performer as a 900. Goddard regularly earned points on the Benelli and those points were earned from a gaggle of Ducati 1000 twins with very capable riders. Starting with this engine, Benelli has created what it claims is the "very first long stroke sports engine." The combustion chamber also has a new hemispherical shape, new cam profiles and intake system and the exhaust system has also been completely redesigned, and there's a new electronic control unit with a much improved microprocessor, so it's safe to say they haven't just grafted the old donk.

The "Long Stroke" configuration of the Benelli engine revs to 9,500 rpm and pumps out a healthy 101 Kw (135 CV) and 118 Nm (12 Kgm) torque at 6,250 rpm. With a dry weight of 199 kilograms, the bike isn't exactly a lightweight, coming in heavier than the 1000cc supersport bikes.